The family of a Fort Worth police officer who was killed in the line of duty is outraged that the drunken driver who hit him could be freed from his life sentence.
Officer Alan Chick was helping a stranded driver on Oak Grove Road near Loop 820 when a drunken driver smashed into his squad car in December 1993.
He died two days after Christmas.
His wife, Lisa Chick, found out last week that Eugene Standerford might get out of prison early for medical reasons instead of serving his life sentence.
“This is an insult to our family," said Chick, a retired Fort Worth police officer who met her husband on the job. "This is an insult to the criminal justice and law enforcement community."
The call from the state shocked Chick, who put her police officer skills to work and quickly drafted a letter to the parole board stating why Standerford should stay in prison.
The letter mentions his multiple arrests and convictions for drunken driving. Chick also wrote that Standerford lost part of his leg in a previous drunken-driving crash, proving that he has no regard for anyone’s safety.
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The letter is devoid of any emotion, reading like a police report. Chick did not even mention Standerford by name, simply referring to him by his inmate number, 718972.
Chick said that reverting back to her days as an officer was a protective measure that she hopes would help keep Standerford in prison.
“The facts that I presented in law-enforcement mode speak volumes much easier than someone who says, 'I miss my husband all the time. Every day is a day I think about him. At night, I see him in my prayers.' That's not going to sway anyone,” said Chick, holding back her emotions.
She said she would let her emotions out privately, after the parole board makes a decision.
